Toby Harnden was the Daily Telegraph's US Editor, based in Washington DC, from 2006 to 2011. Click here for Toby's website. Follow him on Twitter here @tobyharnden and on Facebook here. He is the author of the bestselling book Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Defining Story Britain's War in Afghanistan.

British diplomat receives texts meant for Republican senator

A British diplomat who for some reason (I'm assured no theft was involved) has a cell phone number that used to belong to Senator John Sununu of New Hampshire found himself bombarded with more than 150 text messages on election day.

The hapless Mr Sununu was going down to defeat at the hands of his Democratic opponent Jeanne Shaheen and the text messages of first encouragement and then commiseration became more and more frantic as the night wore on.

One of the final ones said: "If prayers were votes, I'm on my knees for you."